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The Influence of Network Exchange Brokers on Sustainable Initiatives in Organizational Networks

Author

Listed:
  • Lance W. Saunders

    (Virginia Commonwealth University)

  • Wendy L. Tate

    (University of Tennessee)

  • George A. Zsidisin

    (Virginia Commonwealth University)

  • Joe Miemczyk

    (Audencia Nantes School of Management
    ESCP Europe Business School)

Abstract

Ethical sourcing and socially responsible purchasing is increasingly on the business agenda, but developing and implementing policy and practice across a global network of suppliers is challenging. The purpose of this paper is to expand theory on the nature of linkages between firms in a social network, specifically postulating how ties between organizations can be configured to facilitate development, diffusion, and adoption of sustainability initiatives. The theory development provides a lens with which to view the influence of a firm’s structural embeddedness in its organizational social network on developing, diffusing and adopting sustainability initiatives. The focus is on brokers who in various structural alignments help bridge the focal firm’s sustainability initiatives with distant or disconnected stakeholders the focal firm is trying to reach. The brokers help the focal firm engage these stakeholders by sharing knowledge and information regarding sustainability initiatives and by incorporating localized needs into the development of the initiatives to facilitate better diffusion and adoption. The theoretical contribution of this manuscript is a novel perspective on sustainability in organizational networks. This perspective allows for greater explanatory power regarding how organizations can achieve sustainable outcomes that meet a broad base of stakeholder needs and better facilitate sustainability initiatives across a diverse and expansive network.

Suggested Citation

  • Lance W. Saunders & Wendy L. Tate & George A. Zsidisin & Joe Miemczyk, 2019. "The Influence of Network Exchange Brokers on Sustainable Initiatives in Organizational Networks," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 849-868, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:154:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-017-3436-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-017-3436-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Adhikary, Anirban & Sharma, Amalesh & Diatha, Krishna Sundar & Jayaram, Jayanth, 2020. "Impact of buyer-supplier network complexity on firms’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: An empirical investigation," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    3. Anne Ratsimandresy & Joe Miemczyk, 2023. "Conceptualising Collaborations beyond Industrial Boundaries: A Literature Review and a Theoretical Proposition to Understand Cross-Industrial Collaborations in the Circular Supply Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Izabela Delabre & Joss Lyons‐White & Clara Melot & Eirik Ingwardo Veggeberg & Anthony Alexander & Martin C. Schleper & Robert M. Ewers & Andrew T. Knight, 2023. "Should I stay or should I go? Understanding stakeholder dis/engagement for deforestation‐free palm oil," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5128-5145, December.
    5. Else, Tim & Choudhary, Sonal & Genovese, Andrea, 2022. "Uncovering sustainability storylines from dairy supply chain discourse," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 858-874.
    6. Xiaoxiao Shi & Qingpu Zhang, 2020. "Network inertia and inbound open innovation: is there a bidirectional relationship?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 122(2), pages 791-815, February.

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